Car Review: 2012 Mazda3 Sport Edition

Reach for the SkyActiv; Canada's top-selling car redesigned with tech and design advancements

By Bob McHugh, The Province

Originally published: July 11, 2012

SMALL

MEDIUM

LARGE

The Mazda3 is a top-selling car in Canada and the Sport edition is an upscale five-door hatchback version of the sedan. Its last complete redesign was for the 2010 model year, and the big new stories for 2012 are the introduction of SkyActiv editions, and lower prices.

Trim level prices have been reduced by about $600 to $1,500 across the lineup and the Sport editions are priced about $1,000 above their sedan counterparts. The Mazda3 Sport now comes in four trim levels: GX ($16,895); GS ($19,495); the new GS-Sky ($20,345); and GT ($24,845).

The base GX is powered by a 148 horsepower 2.0-litre engine with a 5-speed manual transmission, while the GS and GT trims both come with a 167 horsepower 2.5-litre 4-cylinder and a 6-speed manual gearbox. An optional 5-speed automatic with a distinctively Mazda manual shift mode is also offered.

SkyActiv is actually a collection of technology and design advancements that squeeze more usable energy out of every drop of gasoline that goes to the engine. And since most gasoline engines are less than 30 per cent efficient, there’s probably room for improvement. Mazda challenged its engineers and designers to question conventional industry wisdom and adopt a "sky is the limit" mentality . . . hence the name.

So, without resorting to higher-cost electric solutions, Mazda was able to achieve near hybrid-like fuel economy results. The added bonus for Mazda is that if, and more likely when, it adds electric features, it will again be ahead of the pack.

While the GS-Sky edition of the Mazda3 doesn’t have a complete SkyActiv package yet (the new Mazda CX-5 does), it still offers significantly better fuel economy without sacrificing performance. In fact, power output is higher, in addition to the fuel economy benefit.

The 2.0-litre SkyActiv engine can produce 155 horsepower and 148 foot-pounds of torque, and it runs on regular gasoline. That’s surprising as it’s an ultra-high (about 13: 1) compression ratio engine (10: 1 or less is the norm). When sold in countries (mostly European) with higher octane regular gasoline the ratio can be even higher and that translates to even more power.

This engine is mated to either a new 6-speed manual or automatic transmission. My test GS-Sky came with the new automatic, which is a lightweight design with fewer components and a more active lock-up feature that provides better fuel economy.

THE LOOKS

Wipe that grin off its face, or something to that effect, must have been a priority order to designers. The front facelift definitely gives the 2012 Maz-da3 a more dignified appearance, even though the new front side air intakes in the fascia are fakes. You’ve no doubt seen lots of Mazda3’s on the road, yet it’s a design that still looks fresh and modern, as well as being aerodynamic. Mazda claim’s a highly slippery 0.29 coefficient of drag number for the 5-door body style.

THE INSIDE

My test GS-Sky came with cloth upholstery and manual adjustments on the front seats. The driver gets a crank-type cushion height adjustment to help find that optimal drive position and every Mazda3 comes with a tilt and telescopic steering wheel (makes sense to me!). Some extra meat on the leather covered steering wheel would be nice, but I did like the selection of controls on the wheel, which are also standard. In fact, the entire driver control layout is cleverly simple and easy to use. No fancy electronic displays, just easy to find and use switches and round dials – now that’s a novel idea! Delightful surprises include wipers and lights with "set and forget" auto settings. The bucket style seats also offer good lateral support, but cushioning was on the firm side. Rear seat leg room is a bit tight, but typical of what you get in a compact car.

SAFETY

The Mazda3 was recognized as a ‘Top Safety Pick’ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, based on the results of its crash tests program. An electronic stability control system is now standard on all trim levels.

THE DRIVE

While it may be a cost-conscious compact car, the driver focus and racing connection is still evident when you get behind the wheel of a Mazda3. Clearly someone who is enthusiastic about driving had major role in its design. There’s a sporty firmer feel to the suspension than you typically get in this class and the payoff is delightfully agile handling. An electrohydraulic power assist system on the steering is very nicely tuned to provide a precision feel and good straight line tracking. The SkyActiv engine’s pulling power below 3000 rpm was a little disappointing, but it certainly makes good from that point on. At 100 kilometres per hour the tachometer reads just under 2000 rpm and went to just over that mark at 110 km/h. So, in addition to being highly fuel efficient it’s also a quiet engine at highway cruising speeds. The new 6-speed automatic is an absolute delight to use. Although mechanically it’s an old-school conventional automatic Mazda has removed slip and sharpened the gear changes so that it can match the speed of the latest doubleclutch automatics. While it didn’t have a "sport" drive mode, in manual mode if you floor the gas pedal it instantly drops-down a couple of gears, which is a very nice feature.

THE SCORE

Even though the zoom-zoom guys have focused on fuel conservation in making the GS-Sky edition of the Mazda3 Sport, its performance pedigree is not only intact, it’s enhanced. Way to go, Mazda!